Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs

Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs cooked in tomato sauce is the best healthy 30 minute comfort meal! This recipe is easy to make is can be served with a bowl of spaghetti, rice, or other grains of your choice.

When life is getting busy I try to make some quick dinners that don’t take much time. Instant pot recipes are great for meals that need to be cooked fast. Plus, you don’t need to wash multiple pots and pans afterwards.

This recipe for Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs became one of our favorites for a few reasons.

It’s super EASY to make. Mix all the ingredients in one bowl, then cook it in a pressure cooker.

It’s HEALTHY. Turkey is always popular among people who try to eat lean meat and reduce calories.

It is perfect for a MEAL PREP. Make these meatballs and put them in lunch boxes with grains and vegetables.

Tips and Tricks:

There are a few tips I have to make the perfect turkey meatballs.

You can finely chop the onion or grind it. I always like to grind my onion in a mini food processor to make it more like paste. This way it also produces more liquid, which adds more flavor to the dish.

If you decide to grind your onion like me, your turkey mixture will be a bit more wet than with chopped onion. To balance, just add a bit more breadcrumbs (about ¼ cup).

In general, the turkey mixture will be more or less wet for everyone, so adjust your breadcrumbs accordingly to get the perfect texture, so your meatballs are not falling apart.

To make sure your meatballs don’t fall apart while cooking, I like to brown them on both sides. Plus, they taste better this way!

How to Make Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs

This is a really easy recipe that you can make for dinner or a meal prep.

Just put all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl (ground turkey breast, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, onion, garlic, parsley, an egg, milk, breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese), and using your hands, mix it well until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

When the olive oil is hot, brown the meatballs in two batches, so they are in a single layer and don’t touch each other. Brown them for about 1-2 minutes each undisturbed on both sides, until they get brown color. Then remove from the pot.

Add chicken broth and scrape any burned bits from the bottom of the pot. Then add tomato sauce and mix. Bring it to the boil and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.

Transfer the meatballs back to the pot in a single layer.

Cover with a lid and cook on Manual high pressure for 5 minutes. Make sure that the venting knob is turned to “Sealing”!

When it is done, let it naturally release the pressure for 5-7 minutes. Then switch the knob to venting position and release the steam. Make sure the steam is fully released and the valve is completely down before opening the pot!

Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs cooked in tomato sauce is the best healthy 30 minute comfort meal! This recipe is easy to make is can be served with a bowl of spaghetti, rice, or other grains of your choice.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs

Servings: 4people

Calories: 347kcal

Author: Veronika's Kitchen

Ingredients

1poundground turkey

1/2teaspoonsalt

1/4teaspoonblack pepper

1/4teaspoonred pepper flakes

1medium onion, finely chopped

2clovesgarlic, minced

2tablespoonsparsley, finely chopped

1large egg

1tablespoonmilk

1/2cupbreadcrumbs

1/2cupparmesan cheese, grated

2tablespoonsolive oil

1/2cupchicken broth

1cantomato sauce (14oz)

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, mix all the ingredients together (ground turkey breast, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, onion, garlic, parsley, an egg, milk, breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese), and using your hands, mix it well until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Form the meatballs, about 2 tablespoons each.

Set Instant Pot to Sauté on high heat and add olive oil.

When the olive oil is hot, brown the meatballs in two batches, so they are in a single layer and don’t touch each other. Brown them for about 1-2 minutes each undisturbed on both sides, until they get brown color. Then remove from the pot.

Add chicken broth and scrape any burned bits from the bottom of the pot. Then add tomato sauce and mix. Bring it to the boil and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.

Transfer the meatballs back to the pot in a single layer.

Cover with a lid and cook on Manual high pressure for 5 minutes. Make sure that the venting knob is turned to “Sealing”!

When it is done, let it naturally release the pressure for 5-7 minutes. Then switch the knob to venting position and release the steam. Make sure the steam is fully released and the valve is completely down before opening the pot!

Serve with pasta, rice, or other grains of your choice.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

You can finely chop the onion or grind it. I always like to grind my onion in a mini food processor to make it more like paste. This way it also produces more liquid, which adds more flavor to the dish.

If you decide to grind your onion like me, your turkey mixture will be a bit more wet than with chopped onion. To balance, just add a bit more breadcrumbs (about ¼ cup).

In general, the turkey mixture will be more or less wet for everyone, so adjust your breadcrumbs accordingly to get the perfect texture, so your meatballs are not falling apart.

To make sure your meatballs don’t fall apart while cooking, I like to brown them on both sides. Plus, they taste better this way!

I had made chicken Parmesan meatballs some time back in instant pot and kids absolutely loved it with spaghetti. Turkey meatballs is such a refreshing variation that I want to try soon. Looks so delicious!

I know some people feel like if meatballs are made from pork, they’re not “real” meatballs – but I personally LOVE turkey meatballs! These look delicious.

Vote Up0Vote Down Reply

February 3, 2019 5:01 pm

Guest

Amanda Mason

I so needed this recipe right now!! I’ve been looking for something I can make ahead that is high in protein that I can eat as a snack, lunch or dinner. I can see myself eating this with spaghetti squash and marinara sauce! Printing this out right now!

Vote Up0Vote Down Reply

February 2, 2019 9:41 am

Guest

Kiki Johnson

I love meatballs and this recipe is a great reminder to use ground Turkey instead of beef more often. Would love these over some zucchini noodles to keep things low carb.

I love any recipe made in the instant pot – such a great way to get dinner on the table in a hurry. These meatballs look delish!

Vote Up0Vote Down Reply

January 29, 2019 10:48 am

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Veronika's Kitchen

Hi and welcome to my food blog, Veronika’s Kitchen!
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